[:en]SCRIPTURE: HEBREWS 6
“Therefore, let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God” (Hebrews 6:1)
“God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them” (Hebrews 6:10)
The author was appealing his readers to leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity. He urged them to yield themselves to the power of God.
Due to persecution, the Hebrew Christians were tempted to lay again the foundation not of Christian faith but of the basic doctrines of Judaism. They were about to forsake Christ and slip to babyhoond. They had already repented and shown faith towards God. They had known instruction about baptism, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead and the eternal judgment. Buy they were moving backward to the belief of Judaism.
The author emphasized that believers have experienced the spiritual blessings – heavenly gift, Holy Spirit, Goodness of the Word of God, Power of the coming age. But if they go backward in their spiritual lives and continue to sin, it proves that they have never repented.
“Land” is being made as n illustration to the testing fires of God. Land is useful if it produces crops and bears fruits. But if it produces thorns and thitles, it is useless and it has to be burned. Similarly, our lives will be tested. If we bear fruits, we will be rewarded with the blessings of God. If we fail to bear fruit, we will suffer loss at the judgment seat of Christ.
He urged the believers not to forget two things: to love God and to do good works. If we show diligence to the very end, we have the assurance of blessed “hope”.
In closing, the writer gave the assurance of God’s promise. He used Abraham as an example of patient faith. Abraham received the promise of God because of his faithfulness. God did this for Abaram to make clear to the “heirs” about His unchanging nature and promises. As all true believers are Abaraham’s children by faith, so they are also heirs to God’s kingdom.
There are two “unchangeable things” that give us assurance. (1)-God can not lie. (2)-God cannot change. This is God’s promise and oath that give us “Hope” to anchor and keep our soul firm and secure in eternity.
LESSONS:
We have to move forward and not backward. We have to grow into maturity by reading and obeying His Word. We are to bear fruits and show good testimonies. We have to exercise faith and patience to receive God’s blessings. God assured His children with hope anchored in eternity when we join Him in glory.[:]